Apparatus for laying a length of material on a surface

ABSTRACT

A vehicle for unrolling a roll of material to lay the material on a surface. The vehicle includes a vehicle frame, a pair of driving wheels mounted on the frame for selectively independent rotation with respect to the frame, and a power source mounted on the frame. The power source is adapted to independently rotate each of the driving wheels in both a forward rotational direction and a reverse rotational direction opposite the forward rotational direction thereby providing the vehicle with a turning radius of about zero degrees. The vehicle also includes at least one caster. A support member is mounted on the frame for pivotal movement with respect to the frame to raise and support the roll of material in a raised position above the surface, lower the roll of material onto the surface, and facilitate unrolling the roll of material to lay the material on the surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to laying material from a rollof material, and more specifically to a vehicle for unrolling a roll ofsod to lay a length of sod on a surface.

Powered vehicles are typically used to unroll rolls of sod to lay thesod on surfaces such as residential yards, commercial yards, athleticfields, and the like. Conventional vehicles for laying sod generallyinclude a support for engaging the roll to transport the roll to theappropriate location and to unroll sod from the roll when the vehicle ispropelled forward. However, the supports of such conventional vehiclesare generally difficult to engage with the roll of sod. Additionally,conventional vehicles for laying sod may be difficult to maneuver intoposition for laying the sod and may be difficult to maneuver whenunrolling the roll. To improve maneuverability, some vehicles includetracks for engaging and propelling the vehicle along the surface onwhich the sod is being laid. However, the tracks of such vehicles maytear or damage sod already laid on the surface, particularly while thevehicle is turning, which may require smoothing or replacement of thetorn/damaged sod. The tracks of such vehicles may also dislodge from thevehicle when the vehicle is turned sharply or is driven over a sloped oruneven surface. Additionally, conventional vehicles for unrolling sodrolls may suffer from slow ground speed, low ground clearance, as wellas poor traction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention includes a vehicle for unrolling aroll of material to lay a length of the material on a surface. Thevehicle includes a vehicle frame having a forward end and a rearward endopposite the forward end, and a pair of driving wheels mounted on theframe for selectively independent rotation with respect to the frameabout an axis of rotation extending generally parallel to the surfaceand transverse to the frame. The vehicle also includes a power sourcemounted on the frame and operatively connected to the pair of drivingwheels to selectively rotate the driving wheels about the axis ofrotation for propelling the vehicle along the surface and forcontrolling a direction of travel of the vehicle along the surface. Thepower source is adapted to independently rotate each of the drivingwheels about the axis of rotation in both a forward rotational directionand a reverse rotational direction opposite the forward rotationaldirection thereby providing the vehicle with a turning radius of aboutzero degrees. The vehicle further includes at least one caster forstabilizing the vehicle on the surface. The caster is rotatably mountedon the frame for rotation with respect to the frame about a central axisextending generally parallel to the surface, and is rotatably mounted onthe frame for rotation with respect to the frame about a pivot axisextending generally perpendicular to the surface. A support member ismounted on the frame for pivotal movement with respect to the frame toraise and support the roll of material in a raised position above thesurface for transportation of the roll of material prior to unrolling,lower the roll of material onto the surface for engagement with thesurface, and facilitate unrolling the roll of material to lay thematerial on the surface when the roll of material is engaged with thesurface and the vehicle is propelled along the surface.

In another aspect, the present invention includes a vehicle forunrolling a roll of material to lay a length of the material on asurface. The vehicle includes a frame having a forward end and arearward end opposite the forward end, a pair of driving wheelsrotatably mounted on the frame adjacent the rearward end for rotationwith respect to the frame in a forward rotational direction and areverse rotational direction opposite the forward rotational direction,and a pair of casters rotatably mounted on the frame adjacent theforward end for rotation with respect to the frame in the forwardrotational direction and the reverse rotational direction. The pair ofcasters are rotatably mounted on the frame for rotation about a pivotaxis of rotation extending generally perpendicular to the surface andgenerally perpendicular to the forward and reverse rotationaldirections. The vehicle also includes a power source mounted on theframe and operatively connected to the pair of driving wheels to drivethe driving wheels for propelling the vehicle along the surface and forcontrolling a direction of travel of the vehicle along the surface. Thepower source is adapted to independently drive each of the drivingwheels in both the forward rotational direction and the reverserotational direction so the vehicle has a turning radius of about zerodegrees. The vehicle further includes a support member pivotally mountedon the frame for pivotal movement with respect to the frame between araised position wherein the roll of material is supported above thesurface by the support member for transportation of the roll of materialprior to unrolling thereof, and a lowered position wherein the roll ofmaterial is engaged with the surface and is adapted to unroll as thevehicle travels along the surface to lay a length of the materialthereon.

Other features of the present invention will be in part apparent and inpart pointed out hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective of a vehicle of the present invention forunrolling a roll of material such as sod to lay a length of material ona surface;

FIG. 2 is another perspective of the vehicle illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective of a support member of the vehicle;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the vehicle illustrating the supportmember in a lowered position; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the vehicle illustrating the supportmember in a raised position.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, and more specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2, avehicle of the present invention is designated in its entirety by thereference numeral 20. The vehicle 20 includes a frame 22, a pair ofdriving wheels 24 (only one of which is visible in FIG. 1), a powersource (generally designated by 28), a pair of casters 30, and a supportmember (generally designated by 32).

The vehicle frame 22 has a forward end (generally designated by 34) anda rearward end (generally designated by 36) opposite the forward end.The driving wheels 24 are mounted on the frame 22 for selectiveindependent rotation with respect to the frame about an axis of rotation38 extending generally parallel to a surface 40 on which the vehicle 20rests (e.g., earth) and extending generally transverse to the frame. Thewheels 24 are mounted on the frame for rotation about the axis ofrotation 38 in a forward rotational direction 42 and a reverserotational direction 44 opposite the forward rotational direction. Thepower source 28 is mounted on the frame and operatively connected to thedriving wheels 24 to drive the wheels, and more specifically toselectively rotate the wheels about the axis of rotation 38, forpropelling the vehicle 20 along the surface 40. The power source 28 isadapted to independently rotate each of the driving wheels 24 about theaxis of rotation 38 in both the forward rotational direction 42 and thereverse rotational direction 44 to control a direction of travel of thevehicle 20 along the surface 40. Independently rotating each of thedriving wheels 24 in both the forward and reverse rotational directions42, 44 not only provides a means for controlling a direction of travelof the vehicle 20, but also provides the vehicle with a turning radiusof about zero degrees to increase the maneuverability of the vehicle.

Although other means and/or configurations (e.g., separate power sourcesfor each wheel 24) may be used to permit the power source 28 toindependently rotate each of the driving wheels 24 without departingfrom the scope of the present invention, in one embodiment the powersource is operatively connected to the wheels 24 via a conventionalindependent drive transmission (not shown). (Is the transmissionselected separately from the rest of the vehicle, i.e, is it common toselect different transmissions when selecting a particular tractor?)Additionally, although other power sources (e.g., an electric motor) maybe used without departing from the scope of the present invention, inone embodiment the power source 28 is a gasoline powered, internalcombustion engine. For example, in one embodiment the power source 28 isa ______ combustion engine, commercially available from ______ of______.

The casters 30 are mounted on the frame 22 for stabilizing the vehicle20 on the surface 40. To accommodate movement of the vehicle 20 alongthe surface 40, each of the casters 30 is rotatably mounted on the frame22 for rotation with respect to the frame in the forward rotationaldirection 42 and the reverse rotational direction 44 about a centralaxis 46 extending generally parallel to the surface 40 and generallyparallel to the axis of rotation 38. Additionally, to accommodate achange of a direction of travel of the vehicle 20 along the surface 40,the casters 30 are each rotatably mounted on the frame 22 for rotationwith respect to the frame about a respective pivot axis 48 extendinggenerally perpendicular to the surface 40 and extending generallyperpendicular to the forward and reverse rotational directions 42, 44.

Although the vehicle 20 is illustrated herein as including a pair ofcasters 30, it should be understood that the vehicle 20 may include anynumber of casters 30 (e.g., only one caster 30) mounted on the frame 22to stabilize the vehicle 20 on a surface without departing from thescope of the present invention. Additionally, although the drive wheels24 are illustrated herein as being mounted on the frame 22 generallyadjacent the rearward end 36, and the casters 30 are illustrated hereinas being mounted on the frame generally adjacent the forward end 34, itshould be understood that the drive wheels may be mounted on the framegenerally adjacent the forward end and the casters may be mounted on theframe generally adjacent the rearward end. Furthermore, other mountingconfigurations for the drive wheels 24 and the casters 30 may be usedwithout departing from the scope of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the support member 32 is adapted to engage andsupport a roll of material (generally designated by 50) such as sod fortransportation of the roll to a predetermined location on the surface 40and for unrolling the roll to lay sod on the surface when the vehicle 20is propelled therealong. More specifically, the support member 32includes a cross-member 52 pivotally mounted on the frame 22. A pair ofarms 54, 56 are mounted on the cross-member 52 and each arm extends froma respective end (generally designated by 58, 60) of the cross-member.Each of the arms 54, 56 extends between a first end 62, 64 (e.g., a backend) adjacent the cross-member 52 and a second end 66, 68 (e.g., a frontend) opposite the respective first end. A cradle (generally designatedby 70) extends from the second end 66, 68 of each respective arm 54, 56for supporting the roll of sod 50. More specifically, the roll of sod 50includes a central diametrical opening 72, and the cradle 70 includes apair of inner cradle plates 74, 76 each extending from a respective armof the pair of arms 54, 56. Each of the cradle plates 74, 76 includes aslot 78, 80, respectively, for receiving a respective end 82, 84 of asod roll bar 86 adapted to be received within the central opening 72 ofthe roll 50. When the bar 86 is received within the opening 72 and theends 82, 84 are received with the respective slot 78, 80, the supportmember 32, and more specifically the cradle 70, supports the roll of sod50.

To prevent the sod roll bar 86 from escaping from the slots 78, 80 in alateral direction with respect to the vehicle 20, the cradle 70 includesa pair of outer retaining plates 88, 90, each extending from arespective arm 54, 56 of the pair of arms. Each of the retaining plates88, 90 is spaced laterally outward from a respective inner cradle plate74, 76 of the pair of inner cradle plates. The retaining plates 88, 90prevent the ends 82, 84 of the sod roll bar 86 from escaping from theirrespective slots 78, 80 when the sod roll 50 is supported by the supportmember 32.

The support member 32 is pivotally mounted on the frame 22 for pivotalmovement with respect to the frame between a lowered position asillustrated in FIG. 4 and a raised position as illustrated in FIG. 5.More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the support member 32 isconfigured to raise the roll of sod 50 above the surface 40 and supportthe roll in the raised position for transportation of the roll prior tounrolling thereof from a storage location on the surface to apredetermined location on the surface where sod is desired to be laid.As illustrated in FIG. 4, the support member 32 is configured to lowerthe roll of sod 50 onto the surface 40 and support the roll in thelowered position wherein the roll is engaged with the surface 40 andadapted to unroll as the vehicle 20 travels along the surface to lay alength of sod thereon.

Although other means and/or configurations may be used to pivot thesupport member 32 between the raised position and the lowered position,in one embodiment a hydraulic system (generally designated by 91) ismounted on the frame 22 and the support member for pivoting the supportmember with respect to the frame between the raised position and thelowered position, and more specifically for selectively raising the rollof sod 50 above the surface 40 and lowering the roll onto the surfacefor engagement with the surface. In the exemplary embodiment, thehydraulic system 91 includes a standard on-board hydraulic drive (notshown), a hydraulic cylinder 92 mounted to the frame 22 and thecross-member 52 (FIG. 3) adjacent the end 58 (FIG. 3), and a hydrauliccylinder (not shown) mounted to the frame and the cross-member adjacentthe end 60 (FIG. 3). Although the power source 28 may be operativelyconnected to the hydraulic cylinders in any suitable manner withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention to actuate thecylinders to raise and lower the support member 32, in the exemplaryembodiment the power source 28 is operatively connected to the cylindersvia the hydraulic drive.

In one embodiment, the vehicle 20 includes an operator control(generally designated by 96) mounted on the frame 22 for controlling thepower source 28, and therefore the drive wheels 24, and for controllingthe support member 32 to selectively raise the roll of sod 50 above thesurface 40 and lower the roll onto the surface for engagement with thesurface. Additionally, in one embodiment, the vehicle 20 includes a seat97 mounted on the frame 22 between the forward end 34 and the rearwardend 36 for supporting an operator of the vehicle.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the vehicle 20 includes at least one weight 98mounted on the frame adjacent the rearward end 36 to facilitatestabilizing the vehicle on the surface 40 by counterbalancing thesupport member 32, including the roll of sod 50 when the roll is engagedtherewith. Although the support member 32 is illustrated herein asmounted on the frame 22 adjacent the forward end 34, and the weight(s)98 is illustrated herein as mounted on the frame 22 adjacent therearward end 36, it should be understood that the weight(s) may bemounted on the frame generally adjacent the forward end 34 and thesupport member 32 may be mounted on the frame generally adjacent therearward end 36. Furthermore, other mounting configurations for theweight(s) and/or the support member may be used without departing fromthe scope of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, to engage the roll of sod 50 with the supportmember 32, and more specifically the cradle 70, the sod roll bar 86 isreceived within the central opening 72 of the roll and the roll isreceived within the cradle 70 so the ends 82, 84 of the bar are receivedwithin the slots 78, 80 of the cradle plates 74, 76 respectively. In oneembodiment, the inner cradle plates 74, 76 each include a taperedforward edge (generally designated by 100) to facilitate guiding the sodroll bar 86 into the slots 78, 80 as the vehicle 20 travels along thesurface 40 toward the roll. More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 4the tapered forward edge 100 of each cradle plate 74, 76 is defined byan edge 102 extending generally parallel to the arms 54, 56, andtherefore extending generally parallel to the surface 40 when thesupport member is in the lowered position, and an edge 104 extendinggenerally oblique with respect to the arms. When the roll of sod 50rests on the surface 40 and the support member 32 is in the loweredposition as illustrated in FIG. 3, as the vehicle 20 is driven towardthe roll the tapered forward edges 100 engage the sod roll bar 86 so theedges 104 guide the bar into the slots 78, 80. Accordingly, the taperedforward edges 100 of the cradle 70 enable the roll of sod 50 to be moreeasily engaged with the support member 32. Additionally, when the sodroll bar 86 is guided into the slots 78, 80 in such a manner, anoperator may not need to manually lift and/or manually guide the roll ofsod 50 into engagement with the support member 32, and more specificallythe cradle 70.

Once the roll of sod 50 is engaged with the support member 32 asillustrated in FIG. 4, the support member is pivoted with respect to theframe 22 to raise the support member to the raised position illustratedin FIG. 5. When the roll of sod 50 is engaged with the support member32, the weight 98 counterbalances the support member and the roll tofacilitate stabilizing the vehicle 20 on the surface 40. With thesupport member 32 in the raised position, the vehicle 20 is driven to apredetermined location on the surface 40 where sod from the roll 50 isdesired to be laid. The support member 32 is then pivoted with respectto the frame 22 to lower the support member to the lowered positionillustrated in FIG. 4 to engage the roll of sod 50 with the surface 40.As the vehicle 20 is driven along the surface 40, the roll of sod 50unrolls to lay a predetermined length of sod from the roll onto thesurface. The turning radius of about zero degrees increases amaneuverability of the vehicle 20 so the vehicle is more easilymaneuvered into position for laying the sod and during unrolling of theroll 50 without causing damage the surface 40, including any sod laidthereon. When the predetermined length of sod has been laid on thesurface 40, the support member 32 may be pivoted with respect to theframe 22 to raise the support member to the raised position illustratedin FIG. 5 for transportation to a storage location or to anotherlocation on the surface where sod is desired to be laid.

With the exception of the support member 32 and attendant mechanisms,the vehicle 20 may be a conventional zero turning radius utility vehiclesuch as a ______, commercially available from ______, of ______.

Although the vehicle 20 is described and illustrated herein with regardto laying a length of sod from a roll of sod 50, it should be understoodthat the vehicle 20 may be adapted for laying a length of any material(e.g., artificial turf, carpet, or any layer of vegetation) on a surfacefrom a roll of such material without departing from the scope of thepresent invention, whether such material is natural or synthetic.Additionally, although the vehicle 20 is illustrated herein as laying alength of sod on a surface 40 by traveling generally forward along thesurface to unroll a roll of sod 50, it should be understood that thevehicle may travel in any direction (e.g., generally backward) to unrollthe roll and thereby lay sod on the surface.

The above-described vehicle is cost-effective and reliable for unrollinga roll of material to lay a length of the material on a surface. Morespecifically, the vehicle includes a pair of drive wheels adapted forselectively independent rotation in both a forward rotational directionand a rearward rotational direction so the vehicle has a turning radiusof about zero degrees. The turning radius of about zero degreesincreases a maneuverability of the vehicle so the vehicle is more easilymaneuvered into position for laying the material and is more easilymaneuvered during unrolling of the roll without causing damage to thesurface, including any material already laid thereon. Additionally, asupport member of the vehicle for supporting the roll of materialincludes a tapered forward edge to more easily engage the roll ofmaterial with the support member for support of the roll. The taperedforward edge may also facilitate engagement between the support memberand the roll of material without requiring an operator to manually liftand/or guide the roll into engagement with the support member.

When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferredembodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” areintended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms“comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive andmean that there may be additional elements other than the listedelements.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

1. A vehicle for unrolling a roll of material to lay a length of thematerial on a surface, said vehicle comprising: a vehicle frame having aforward end and a rearward end opposite the forward end; a pair ofdriving wheels mounted on the frame for selectively independent rotationwith respect to the frame about an axis of rotation extending generallyparallel to the surface and transverse to the frame; a power sourcemounted on the frame and operatively connected to the pair of drivingwheels to selectively rotate the driving wheels about the axis ofrotation for propelling the vehicle along the surface and forcontrolling a direction of travel of the vehicle along the surface, saidpower source being adapted to independently rotate each of the drivingwheels about the axis of rotation in both a forward rotational directionand a reverse rotational direction opposite the forward rotationaldirection thereby providing the vehicle with a turning radius of aboutzero degrees; at least one caster for stabilizing the vehicle on thesurface, said caster being rotatably mounted on the frame for rotationwith respect to the frame about a central axis extending generallyparallel to the surface, and being rotatably mounted on the frame forrotation with respect to the frame about a pivot axis extendinggenerally perpendicular to the surface; and a support member mounted onthe frame for pivotal movement with respect to the frame to raise andsupport the roll of material in raised position above the surface fortransportation of the roll of material prior to unrolling, lower theroll of material onto the surface for engagement with the surface, andfacilitate unrolling the roll of material to lay the material on thesurface when the roll of material is engaged with the surface and thevehicle is propelled along the surface.
 2. A vehicle in accordance withclaim 1 wherein the caster is mounted on the frame adjacent the forwardend and the pair of driving wheels are mounted on the frame adjacent therearward end.
 3. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1 wherein the casteris mounted on the frame adjacent the rearward end and the pair ofdriving wheels are mounted on the frame adjacent the forward end.
 4. Avehicle in accordance with claim 1 wherein the roll of material includesa central opening, a bar extending through the opening for supportingthe roll of material, and said support member comprises: a cross memberpivotally mounted on the frame having opposite ends; a pair of armsmounted on the cross member, each arm of said pair of arms extendingfrom a respective end of the cross member between a first end adjacentthe cross member and a second end opposite the first end; and a cradleextending from the second end of each arm of the pair of arms forreceiving the bar therein to support the roll of material.
 5. A vehiclein accordance with claim 4 wherein the cradle comprises: a pair of innercradle plates, each cradle plate of said pair of cradle plates extendingfrom a respective arm of the pair of arms and having a slot therein forreceiving a respective end of the bar to support the roll of material;and a pair of outer retaining plates, each retaining plate of said pairof retaining plates extending from a respective arm of the pair of armsand being spaced laterally outward from the respective inner cradleplate for preventing the bar from escaping from the slots.
 6. A vehiclein accordance with claim 5 wherein each inner cradle plate of the pairof inner cradle plates includes a tapered forward edge for guiding thebar into the respective slot as the vehicle travels along the surface.7. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a hydrauliccylinder mounted on the frame and the support member for pivoting thesupport member with respect to the frame to selectively raise the rollof material above the surface and lower the roll of material onto thesurface for engagement with the surface.
 8. A vehicle in accordance withclaim 1 wherein the support member is mounted on the frame adjacent theforward end and the vehicle further comprises a weight mounted on theframe adjacent the rearward end to facilitate stabilizing the vehicle onthe surface by counterbalancing the support member.
 9. A vehicle inaccordance with claim 1 wherein the power source comprises a combustionengine.
 10. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1 further comprising aseat mounted on the frame between the forward end and the rearward endfor supporting an operator of the vehicle.
 11. A vehicle in accordancewith claim 1 further comprising an operator control mounted on the framefor controlling the power source and the support member.
 12. A vehiclefor unrolling a roll of material to lay a length of the material on asurface, said vehicle comprising: a frame having a forward end and arearward end opposite the forward end; a pair of driving wheelsrotatably mounted on the frame adjacent the rearward end for rotationwith respect to the frame in a forward rotational direction and areverse rotational direction opposite the forward rotational direction;a pair of casters rotatably mounted on the frame adjacent the forwardend for rotation with respect to the frame in the forward rotationaldirection and the reverse rotational direction, said pair of castersbeing rotatably mounted on the frame for rotation about a pivot axis ofrotation extending generally perpendicular to the surface and generallyperpendicular to the forward and reverse rotational directions; a powersource mounted on the frame and operatively connected to the pair ofdriving wheels to drive the driving wheels for propelling the vehiclealong the surface and for controlling a direction of travel of thevehicle along the surface, said power source being adapted toindependently drive each of the driving wheels in both the forwardrotational direction and the reverse rotational direction so the vehiclehas a turning radius of about zero degrees; and a support memberpivotally mounted on the frame for pivotal movement with respect to theframe between a raised position wherein the roll of material issupported above the surface by the support member for transportation ofthe roll of material prior to unrolling thereof, and a lowered positionwherein the roll of material is engaged with the surface and is adaptedto unroll as the vehicle travels along the surface to lay a length ofthe material thereon.
 13. A vehicle in accordance with claim 12 whereinthe roll of material includes a central opening, a bar extending throughthe opening for supporting the roll of material, and said support membercomprises: a cross member pivotally mounted on the frame having oppositeends; a pair of arms mounted on the cross member, each arm of said pairof arms extending from a respective end of the cross member between afirst end adjacent the cross member and a second end opposite the firstend; and a cradle extending from the second end of each arm of the pairof arms for receiving the bar therein to support the roll of material.14. A vehicle in accordance with claim 13 wherein the cradle comprises:a pair of inner cradle plates, each cradle plate of said pair of cradleplates extending from a respective arm of the pair of arms and having aslot therein for receiving a respective end of the bar to support theroll of material; and a pair of outer retaining plates, each retainingplate of said pair of retaining plates extending from a respective armof the pair of arms and being spaced laterally outward from therespective inner cradle plate for preventing the bar from escaping fromthe slots.
 15. A vehicle in accordance with claim 14 wherein each innercradle plate of the pair of inner cradle plates includes a taperedforward edge for guiding the bar into the respective slot as the vehicletravels along the surface.
 16. A vehicle in accordance with claim 12further comprising a hydraulic cylinder mounted on the frame and thesupport member for pivoting the support member with respect to the framebetween the raised position and the lowered position.
 17. A vehicle inaccordance with claim 12 wherein the support member is mounted on theframe adjacent the forward end and the vehicle further comprises aweight mounted on the frame adjacent the rearward end to facilitatestabilizing the vehicle on the surface by counterbalancing the supportmember.
 18. A vehicle in accordance with claim 12 wherein the powersource comprises a combustion engine.
 19. A vehicle in accordance withclaim 12 further comprising a seat mounted on the frame between theforward end and the rearward end for supporting an operator of thevehicle.
 20. A vehicle in accordance with claim 12 further comprising anoperator control mounted on the frame for controlling the power sourceand the support member.